Closure for metal containers



March. 1933. E; ROSENBLUETH 903,0

CLOSURE FOR METAL CONTAINERS Filed 001:. 22, 1931 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE V EMILIO ROSENBLUETH, OF MEXICO, MEXICO, A SSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENT S, TO

A. GUSMEE, ING, WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY CLOSURE FOR METAL CONTAINERS Application filed October 22, 1931, Serial No.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of a closure device for use in containers.

More particularly, this invention relates to closures for metallic shipping containers in which liquids may be pasteurized or transported. j o

An object of this invention is to provide means for effecting a leakage proof seal of the clean-out opening in storage or shipping containers used for beverages and other liq-' uids, such as milk; and which may .be easily applied or removed from its position in connection with the wall of the container.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a closing device of the above character, and includes two plate elements, one of which is provided with a ring for holding a resilient member or sealing gasket for contact with the inner wall of the container around the opening thereof; while the other plate element is an outside piece for covering the opening and which fits against the surface of the container around the opening. The first or inner element is provided with easily operable 'means for holding said elements in assembled relation to each other and for moving the elements in relatively approaching directions to rigidly clamp and fix the same in operative engagement with the wall of the container.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of an improved closure device for use in metallic containers for transporting liquids, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and subsequently incorporated in the appended claims. p

Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein is shown one simple and practical embodimentof the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views',--

Figure 1 is a plan view of the embodiment with a part cut away and shown in assembled relation with a container, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the embodiment on lines 2-2 of Fig.

570,379, and in Mexico November 18, 1980.

1, mounted on a container shown in frag H mentary view.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the invention in its preferred embodiment, contains a lower or inner plate 10 of concave or somewhat spherical sectional outline, as

shown in Fig. 2, and having an elliptical contour. The plate=10 has a flange or lateral extension 12 integral with the bodyof, the late for fitting against theperiphery of the inner wall of an opening of a container or cylinder '14 and having the same general outline as flange 12. At each end of the major axis of plate .10 and on flange 12, a lug 11 is welded to the upper face of plate 10, having vertical extensions orfprongs'13 for retaining an elliptical ring 16. The ring 16 has the same general elliptical outline of the lower plate and is adapted to fit snugly against the outline of the opening of the container 14. It is .to be noted that the ring 16 maybe held in rigid position against the lugs 13 by any suitable means such as welding or soldering and is disposed at substantially right angles tothe upper face of flange 12 of plate 10.

At the central portion of plate 10, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, is a pipe or other cylindrical tubular member 18 extending at right angles to'the horizontal planeof the plate. The pipe is permanently attached to the center of the plate by any suitable means such as welding or brazing. Theportion 19 of pipe 18. extending below the lower face of'the. plate 10 is straight and presents a smooth surface, while the end of the pipe is rounded outwardly and tapering toward the end of; the pipe to present a beaded portion 23 for engaging a crown (not shown) so as to cap the tube. It is to be noted that a crown of any kind such as those used for capping the nozzle or tubular end portion of an ordinary soda bottle may be, used for covering the beaded portion .28 of the pipe. The capping of the tube forms atight seal and tainer 14 until wanted. 'The major portion 21 of the pipe extending upwardly from the prevents the escape of fluid from the con- 7 Surrounding ring 16 is a resilient member or gasket 20 resting on the flange 12. The gasket is interposed between flange 12 of plate 10 and the wall of the container around the opening whereby to form a leakage proof contact when the plate is in fixed engagement with the container.

Placed above the lower plate 10 is a plate 22 having an elliptical shape conforming 44 substantially with that of the lower plate. The general sectional outline of the plate 22 as shown by Fig. 1, has a flanged level portion 24 with inclining sides 25, which are partly coiicav'ed and a level base 27, although not in the same plane as flange 24, butparalle'l thereto.

The flange 24 of plate 22 rests on the exterior Wall around the opening of the container 14 and has at each opposed end ofthe flange along its major axis, a cut-away or recess 26 in which the lugs 13 on plate lO fit. The recesses 26 are also used for containing the prongs 28 which extendupwardly at the opposed ends of the ma or axis of the open-- ing of the container 14. It willbe noted that the recesses 26 afford aslight' clearance for easy engagement with the respective prongs 28 and lugs 13 whereby the plates may be kept in relatively'close and stationary position against the wall of the container 10.

The plate22 contains at the center of the base 30, an opening 32 through which the threaded portion of pipe 16 passes so as to leave the curved portions of the respective plates in close relative position. The upper or threaded end 21 of the pipe 18 is adapted for receiving a specially made nut 34 pro vided with a threaded bore for screwing on to the pipesoas to bring the closure plates 40 10 and 22 in relative approaching position to cover the opening of the container. 7

The-inner diameter of the nut 34 and also of the pipe 18 at its threaded portion may befsuitablyenlarged whereby a tapping device (not shown) is insertible through the nut and into the pipe and held therein in leakage proof position by screwing downnut 34 on pipe 18. -While thetightening means is not limited to the use of the'nut herein described, yet for purposes of description, the lower end of nut 34 is hexagonal shaped, as shown at 36, for easily being engaged by a socket wrench, to draw the plates in close fitting positionagainst the wall of the container around the opening. The opposite end 38 of the nut 34 has a peripheral flange with recessed portions oppositely disposed therein and vertical projections 40 and 42 oppositely disposedto each other for making engagement with a pipe coupling (not shown) hav- 7 in g'a spigot at its end to remove the cap on the pip'e 18' and to draw off the liquid from the container as desired. Inside the bore and at the upper end of the 11111234., is a flanged shoulder 44 for properly resting. thereon the sion in which manual contact can be made to pipe end (not shown) of a coupling device. Furthermore the shoulder may be covered with a sealing disc when containers holding liquids use a closure device of the kind embodied herein and are being transported 0r shipped. The top of the disc may also be covered with pitch or other sealing medium to keep" it in position against said shoulder In order to protect the plate elements and the nut from any damage due to contact with the ground or other objects during the mov-' ing of the container, a protective annular member or bumper 46 is provided,-having its walls extending up and beyond the surface of the closure device. The bumper 46 is in permanent engagement with the upper end of the container 14 bymeans of a flanged extension 48 integral with the bumper and is outer plate 22 rests against the outside of the container wall aroun'dth'e opening thereof, while flange 12 of inner plate 10 has a gasket 20 resting thereon which is intermediatethe inside of the container wall around the opening. It will be noted that the arrangement of the device with respect to the container, is mostly inside the container without any of the members of the closing device being subjected to any possible breakage due to the rough handling or bumping of the same.

, From the foregoing description ofthe invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be noted that the inner pl'at'e is of curvate form, thus permitting said plate to be made of thinner metal than heretofore without 1 decreasing its strength. The form of the lower plate 10 has the added feature also of effectively resisting the pressure exerted as a result of theliquid volume changing due to heating of the liquid in the containers or other changes such as in varyin g atmospheric conditions. The outer plate 22 with itsflange 24 resting on the wall "of the opening ofthe container 'hasrecesses at the opposite ends of 1 the major axis so as to bein easy assembled relation with respect to the lower plate 10 because of the guiding lugs 13 on said lower plate. The pipe 18 passing through the center of the inner plate has a form for hold- 7 ing a crown on its lower face to allow for easy insertion of a subject therein, forexample when beer is in the container.. The nut, because of its construction, is suitab'lefor holding a disc sealing medium at one of its "ends, thereby preventing any liquid from escaping from the container until the desired time and also for making eifective engagement with an adjustable coupling. The opening in the container wall when the closing device is removed, may be of suflicient size to permit insertion of a mans arm when cleaning or washing the interior of the same.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that a simply constructed and effective closing device is provided for use in metal containers and other receptacles for transporting liquid commodities. It will be appreciated that in view of the simple and rugged construction of the device embodied herein and described, it will withstand rough handling incidental to its transportation without causing any damage to the same which would preclude its continuous effectiveness or its removal when access is desired to the interior of the container.

While one embodiment of the invention in its preferred and practical form has been shown, yet it is to be understood that various changes of form, construction or relative arrangement of its several elements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereto appended claims. Accordingly, the privilege is reserved of making any such changes Without being limited in the scope of the invention hereof.

I claim:

1. In combination with a shipping container having a clean out opening in itswall,

an outwardly flanged outer closure plate for said opening arranged within the container and provided with a central opening therethrough and oppositely disposed recesses in the flanged portion thereof, an outwardly flanged inner curvate plate for the opening arranged in contact with the inner wall around the opening, a threaded tube extending through the center of the inner plate and the opening of the outer plate, a ring attached at right angles to the plane surface of the inner plate, a pair of oppositely disposed lugs projecting from the inner marginal edge of the flanged portion of the inner plate and contained by the recesses of the outer plate, a gasket surrounding the ring and lying intermediate the inner plate and all around the opening of the container thereof, and threaded removable means for engagement with the tube whereby to draw the plates in clamping position against the wall of the container around the opening of said container to effect a leakage proof closure.

t 2. In combination with a shipping container having a clean out opening in its wall, an outer closure plate for the opening arranged within the container and provided with a central opening therethrough, and oppositely disposed recesses at the major axis of said plate, an inner curvate plate for the opening arranged interiorly thereof, provided with lugs for adjustable engagement with the recesses of the outer plate, a ring at right angles to the plane surface of the inner Iplate held in relative position with the plate y the lugs, a gasket surrounding the ring disposed between the inner plate and the wall of the container surrounding the opening, and means for drawing said plates. in relative tight clamping position whereby.

to effect a leakage proof seal for said container.

3. In a shipping container having an opening in its wall, a clamping closure device comprising a lower closure plate with its marginal edge against the inner container wall surrounding the opening, and having a centrally extending upper and lower tubular portion, a ring at right angles to the upper face of said closure plate abutting the surrounding edge of the container opening, oppositelydisposed lugs projecting upwardly from the closure plate for retaining the ring in position on'said lower closure plate, an upper closure plate having a central opening containing the tubular portion of the lower plate, and oppositely disposed marginal recesses for said lugs to maintain the closure plates in relative position in the container opening, and sealing meansmountedon the upper. tubular portion for drawing said closure plates toward each other against the surrounding walls of the container opening, the lower tubular portion being adapted to engage a sealing crown thereon.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

EMILIO ROSENBLUETI-I. 

